OWN LOSSES:

NARRITIVE OF ACCOUNT:
.....This mission took-off at 0610 on regular Moonbeam patrol on station over Vella Lavella. They arrived on station at- 0630 with Carnagy's division at the south of the island and Moore's division to the north. Lt Schaeffer took- off late and he could not locate his division, after a search he pancaked at 0746. Lt. Koetsch, also off a little late, saw Carnagy's flight of three planes and joined there, leaving Major Moore's division with three planes.
Major Carnagy's division was weaving at about 10,000 feet when they were told to investigate a bogey over Baga Island, so they started to climb and reached 20,000 feet

REMARKS:
.....Lt. Gher, of Carnagey’s division, reports seeing 16 Zeros (Zekes) and eight bombers (probably Bettys). The Zeros apparently were coming in from their right and the division was in a turn to the left. This left Gher in a bad position, giving several Zeros a good shot at him. He was hit in his wing and tail and also ran out of oxygen so returned to base.

.....Lt. I. E. Moore was in position to make a very good run on a Zeke, which smoked badly and headed down. Just about this time he received a 20mm hit in his left wing so he had to dive out and saw a Zero crash in the water while pulling out of his dive. This was undoubtedly the Zero he shot down. On returning to base he found that his hydraulic system had been damaged by the hit in his wing and had to use his emergency system to land.

.....Lt. Koetsch joined with Carnagey and probably saw the bogey first as be says they were below his level but climbed to and perhaps 500 feet above him before contact was made. He reports the Zero in what looked like a tail chase, (Gher reports that they were chasing him) so picked the last one and made a pass at him but missed and tried to climb back up but couldn't find the scrap. He then dove to hunt for the bombers but found none so with a low gas supply, returned to base.

.....Capt. W. D. Moore's division sighted the bogey after Carnagy's outfit had turned them toward the northern end of Vella Lavella. Apparently Capt. Moore was going after the bombers because he is reported to have gone into a dive almost immediately after they were sighted. He was not seen after this dive and is listed as missing.

.....Lt. Carrell, flying on Moore, reports seeing the bogey coming in from the right at the time Moore dove. Carrell estimates that he saw 30 planes in all. He dived and closed in on the closest Zero and got a good five to six second burst into one of them. This one he observed to burst into flames. Lt Carrell had to recharge his guns after each burst He landed with only 10 gallons of gas.

.....Lt Hazlett was a little behind him and Carrell peeled off. He followed in firing as he went but opened fire too soon. After another ineffectual pass he went into the clouds. Upon coming out he saw eight Tonys picking out one he gave it a very long base burst as he tailed in. He saw the Tony hit and explode about five miles south of Paradise Bay on Vella Lavella.

Lt. Hazlett, USMCR
....."At 0610 September 13, 1943 Capt. W. D. Moore's flight became airborne: mission was Moonbeam Patrol. At 0800 we sighted a large bogey of thirty planes on a heading of 120º approaching. Our three planes were between 19-20,000 feet. The enemy was slightly to our right and down about 3,000 feet. Their heading was nearly reciprocal to ours. We peeled off as a unit and made a very steep high-side run tailing in behind the fighters. There were eight Zekes directly in front of me. Evidently I opened up too long off range for there were no results of my opening bursts. Immediately the Japs began scissoring. As a result I had to head into some of the Zeros that had been able to reverse direction. My firing again was ineffective. By this time I had passed completely through the enemy flight. I looked around and could find none of my flight (two other planes) so I pulled up into the stratus clouds at 16,000 feet. I made a 180º turn and came back out of the clouds and started to orbit directly beneath them. Presently I saw a single in-line Jap fighter passing directly beneath me. Again I made an overhead and tailed in behind. Apparently the Jap did not see me, because no evasive action was taken until I opened up at close range, the plane rolled to the right and then to the left. Smoke was pouring from the left wing root, as he went over on his back and went down. I pulled up into a tight turn and watched him hit the ground and explode. There was no fire until the plane hit the earth."

Lt. I. E. Moore:
....."At 0605 on the morning of the 13th of September bogy was sighted at 7 o'clock and was closing range on our section. As soon as I sighted them I swung out into battle formation and made a weave with the first section. Three Zekes came down on the other section shooting over them and pulled up in a wing over and I pulled up and got a good shot while they were standing up on their wing to come down on the first section again. Just as the Zeke started smoking good I heard a 20mm hit my wings and saw hydraulic fluid running out. I was banked up quite steep so kicked bottom rudder and saw three Zekes on my tail and didn't have time to look for other section so dove out. When I leveled out to see if they were still behind me I saw the Zeke come down burning in about a 70º dive hit the water and sink immediately. I tried the wheels, flaps and gun chargers and all were out so made landing without flaps after I used my emergency landing gear device.”

Lt. W. B. Carrell
....."Our flight was a routine moonbeam patrol on 13 September 1943 and at 0745 Sirius Base gave Bogey position at 65 miles on 300 degrees. Capt. Wm. D. Moore immediately took us up to 20,000 feet and we made contact at about 0800. I gave "Tally-Ho" at 1100 o'clock, angel 18, distance 5. Capt. Moore did not see them until they had passed under us. When all three of us did a split "S", we all went down together in a good battle formation, and as I pulled out about 9 or 10 Zeros of the right flank were sitting right in front of me. I opened up on his tail end man and set him afire, and then Zeros went in all directions. I got in several very good deflection shots and shattered the green house completely on a Zero with a full deflection shot; he flew right through my guns. I did not see him after that, for there were too many good shots in front of me, but we almost hit-- he was so close in front of me."

....."It was more or less a melee, and I was taking advantage of all shots, all deflections till the last one. I opened up on one boy in a 90 degree deflection and he turns his tail to me and did a half ass roll; I followed him and as I got on my back a lot of dirt, oil, water, etc., from the bottom of the cockpit came up in my face and I couldn't see a thing. I don't know how I got back right side up, but when I got the dirt out of my eyes I was all alone. I pulled up sharp and looked around for my flight or more Japs; but no one was around. I started the fight on reserve tank, so decided I'd best get home while I still had enough gas to make it. I landed at Diamond at about 0835 with 10 gallons of gas. After the fight started I never saw Capt. Moore or Lt. Hazlett.

Return to 13 September, 1943 War Diary